Collapsible antenna



Feb. 23, 1960 F. K. SAUL, SR 2,926,350

COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNA Filed Feb. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Feb.23, 1960 F. K. SAUL, SR 2,926,350

COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNA Filed Feb. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRA/vc/s KS/wmATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1960 F. K. SAUL, SR 2,926,350

COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNA Fil ed Feb. 19, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet s //VVE/V7'ORFRANCIS K SAUL,5;

A TTORNEYS United rates Patent COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNA Francis K. Saul,Sr.,Delhi, Ontario, Canada Application February 19, 1958, Serial No.716,128 Claims priority, application Canada February 28, 1957 14 Claims.(Cl. 343-881) The invention relates to'an antenna of the type commonlyused for reception of television signals and is particularly concernedwith an antenna which can be collapsed for shipping purposes.

Prior to the invention several types of collapsible antennas have beendeveloped which permitted shipping the antenna in a relatively smallcontainer. One type of known antenna structure which had the advantageof small shipping size also had the serious disadvantage that it must beassembled by use of nuts and bolts, so that the installer required aconsiderable length of time to erect the antenna. This gave rise to theneed for an antenna using clamps to eliminate the use of nuts and bolts.Antenna structures were developed using spring clamps which permittedrapid unfolding of the antenna but it' was found that the spring clamps,because of the pressure which they exerted against the antenna elementsas they were swung into position, caused scoring of the elements so thatthey were weakened, and in many cases it was found that the elementswhen subject to vibration such as that caused by wind broke at thepoints where they had been scored by the spring clamps.

The present invention provides a collapsible antenna having spring meanspermitting rapid erection of the antenna. According to the invention achannel-shaped member is closely fitted to each antenna element toprotect it from scoring by the spring means during erection of theantenna. The antenna element is protected and reinforced at all times bythe channel-shaped member in both the collapsed and erected positions ofthe antenna element.

The channel-shaped member is preferably of rectangular-shapedcross-section, and the spring means engages the channel-shaped member bya rectangular-shaped seat for the channel-shaped member so that theantenna element is held firmly and is reinforced against vibration orother stress. The various parts of an antenna assembly according to theinvention are adapted to be riveted together thereby providing a moreeconomical type of assembly. The antenna elements fold close to theantenna boom so that a minimum size of shipping carton is required.

The invention will be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view showing the various parts used in anassembly according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Figure 1 whenassembled together; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of theinvention.

The same reference designations will be used for similar parts shown inthe three figures of the drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 show the assembly in accordance with the invention ofantenna elements 14 to an antenna boom 10. The antenna boom is fittedwith a crosswise channelshaped bridge member 11 which is cut out at 11ato fit the antenna boom 10. A spring member 12 is placed beneath thebridge member 11 and a bridge cap 15 is 2,926,350 Patented Feb. 23, 1950placedabove the bridge member 11. A rivet 17 is used to fixthe bridgecap 15', the bridge 11 and the spring means 1210 the antenna boom 10.

Each antenna element 14 is fitted with a channelshaped reinforcingmember 13 and is riveted through the bridge member 11- to the spring 12by a rivet 16. The rivet 16 provides a pivotal engagement between theantenna element 14 and the bridge member 11, so that each antennaelement 14 can be swung from a position parallel to' the antenna boom10' to a position crosswise of the antenna boom 10 as indicated by thearrow in Figure 2. Each end of the spring member 12 is turned upwardlyto form a rectangular shaped seat 12a for the channel reinforcing member13. Sloping approaches are provided to cause the channel reinforcingmember 13 to depress the spring 12 asthe antenna element 14 is swunginto its position crosswise of the boom 10. When the channel reinforcingmember 13 is in the seat 12a the spring 12 will snap up into its finalposition with the channel reinforcing member 13 securely held in theseat 12a. The antenna can be collapsed by depressing manually thesprings 12 and swinging the antenna elements back against the antennaboom 10. A

Figure 3 shows a modification of an antenna structure in accordance withthe invention. As shown in Figure 3 a bridge member 11 and reinforcingmembers 13 are used as in Figures 1 and 2 but the bridge cap 15 and thespring 12 of Figures 1 and 2 are eliminated by use of a combinationspring and bridge cap 18. The bridge cap 18 is riveted by rivets 16through the antenna elements 14 to the bridge 11. The bridge 11 isriveted to the boom 10 in the same manner as that shown in Figures 1 and2. Because the combination spring and bridge cap 18 is on top of theassembly, the reinforcing members 13 are fitted on top of the antennaelements 14 to make engagement with the slots 18a in the bridge cap 18.Folding and unfolding of the antenna shown in Figure 3 is done in thesame way as that of the antenna shown in Figures 1 and 2. The large hole19 provided in the centre of the spring 18 is used to permit riveting ofthe assembled clamp to the boom 10 using a rivet 17 as in Figures 1 and2.

The reinforcing channel 13 provided on each antenna element 14 plays animportant part in supporting the elements 14 against vibration andpreventing wear or scoring of each element 14 when it is swung into itsposition crosswise of the boom against the action of the spring 12. Thereinforcing channels 13 transform the round elements 14 from a roundcross-section to a rectangular cross-section so that they can be heldfirmly by the rectangular seats 12a of the spring 12. For shippingpurposes, in order that the antennamay be placed in as small a carton aspossible, the antenna elements 14 are folded to positions parallel tothe boom 10 and, if there is more than one assembly of elements spacedalong the boom 10, the elements 14 of adjacent assemblies can be foldedto positions overlapping one another so that elements 14 from variousassemblies lie side by side.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A support for a collapsible antenna, comprising an antenna boom, abridge member fixed crosswise of the boom, an elongated antenna element,fastening means pivotally attaching said element to the bridge member sothat said element can swing from a position approximately parallel tothe boom to a position lying in a direction crosswise of the boom, achannel-shaped member closely fitted to said element and adapted toswing with said element about said fastening means, and means adapted toengage said channel-shaped member at a position removed from saidfastening means thereby in conjunction with said fastening means to holdsaid element in said direction crosswise of the boom.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1 in which the bridge member is betweenthe antenna element and the means adapted to engage the channel-shapedmember.

3. A support as claimed in claim 1 in which the antenna element extendsfrom between the bridge member and the means adapted to engage thechannel-shaped member.

4. A support for a collapsible antenna, comprising an antenna boom, abridge member fixed crosswise of the boom, an elongated antenna elementof circular crosssection, fastening means pivotally attaching saidelement to the bridge member so that said element can swing from aposition approximately parallel to the boom to a position lying in adirection crosswise of the boom, a channelshaped member of rectangularcross-section closely fitted to said element and adapted to swing withsaid element about said fastening means, and spring means adapted toengage said channel-shaped member at a position removed from saidfastening means thereby in conjunction with said fastening means to holdsaid element in said direction crosswise of the boom.

5. A support as claimed in claim 4 in which the bridge member is betweenthe antenna element and the means adapted to engage the channel-shapedmember.

6. A support as claimed in claim 4 in which the antenna element extendsfrom between the bridge member and the means adapted to engage thechannel-shaped member.

7. A support for a collapsible antenna, comprising an antenna boom, abridge member fixed crosswise of the boom, an elongated antenna elementof circular crosssection, fastening means pivotally attaching saidelement to the bridge member so that said element can swing from aposition approximately parallel to the boom to a position lying in adirection crosswise of the boom, a channel-shaped member of rectangularcross-section closely fitted to said element and adapted to swing withsaid element about said fastening means, and a rectangularshaped seatadapted to engage said channel-shaped memher at a position removed fromsaid fastening means, spring means adapted to urge said seat intoengagement with said channel-shaped member when said element is in saiddirection crosswise of the boom, said seat in conjunction with saidfastening means being adapted to hold said element in said directioncrosswise of the boom.

8. A support as claimed in claim 7 in which the rectangular shaped seatand the spring means are integral.

9. A support as claimed in claim 7 in which the bridge member is betweenthe antenna element and the means adapted to engage the channel-shapedmember.

10. A support as claimed in claim 7 in which the antenna element extendsfrom between the bridge member and the means adapted to engage thechannel-shaped member.

11. A support as claimed in claim 7 in which the rectangular shaped seathas sloped approaches adapted to be 1 engaged by the channel-shapedmember to act against the spring means thereby to permitsaidchannel-shaped memher to enterjsaid seat as the antenna element is swunginto its position crosswise of the boom.

12. A support as claimed in claim 11 in which the rectangular shapedseat and the spring means are integral.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,518,824 Smith Dec. 9, 1924 2,528,400 Trowbridge Oct. 31, 19502,584,947 Walerowitz Feb. 5, 1952 2,697,776 Wale Dec. 21, 1954 2,827,255Kampa Mar. 18, 1958

